Nether garment



M. STOEHR NETHER GARMENT Filed Sept. 9, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 2, 1947 i-Q H 2,424,72

NEITHER GARMENT Filed Sept. 9, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

July 2%, 1947. M. STOEHR 7 2,4243% NETHER GARMENT Filed Sept. 9, 1944 s sheets-Shea s 5/ 50 INVENTOR.

wad/ M sl atenteci Juiy 29,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NETHER GARMENT Mary Stoehr, New York, N. Y.

Application September 9, 1944, Serial No. 553,364

3 Claims. I

This invention relates generally to the wearing apparel art and more particularly to novel nether garment construction. 7

Nether garments, by virtue of the fact that they cover portions of the wearers'legs, are most satisfactory and comfortable when they permit relatively free and uninhibited movement by the wearer. It is, therefore, among the principal objects of the present invention to provide nether garment structure which when worn, permits great freedom of movement combined with comfort.

Another object herein lies in the provision of garment structure which, by virtue of the fact that the same may be opened to a substantially flat condition, is easily laundered and conveniently pressed or ironed.

Another object herein lies in the provision of nether garment structure which is adjustable in size at the waist portions thereof, so that the same may be accommodated to different sizes of wearer girth. This feature is of considerable importance since substantially three different sizes of garment may cover a complete range of 12 one inch girth variations.

The present garment is interchangeable front to back so that its length of wearing life may be increased and also so that it may be used to suit varying conditions of wear. As will appear more fully in the disclosure as it proceeds, the waistband may be exposedly lapped in the front to form a playsuit type of construction or in the rear to form a dropseat type of under garment.

An advantage of the present construction lies in the fact that the same may be easily donned or removed without affecting other garments which may be worn at the time. For example, when the garment is of let us say, wool jersey, it may serve as woolen drawers which can be put on or removed without affecting the outer clothing, thus being especially useful in cold climates. Another example of the versatility of the garment by virtue of this feature, lies in the use thereof as playsuit or bathing trunks, in which event they can be put on without disturbing other outer garments and after bathing is completed, the wet trunks may be removed from underneath dry clothing which has been put over them.

Another object herein lies in the provision of garment structure of the class described, which may be fabricated in a simple and inexpensive manner with extremely slight waste of the material from which the garment is fabricated. Thus, a relatively large size garment may be made from a single square yard of material. This enables the garment to be produced in large quantity at low cost with a consequent wide sale'distribution and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that in addition to the utilitarian aspects thereof, the same presents an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanyihg'drawing forming a part of application, similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a rear perspective'view of a'prefe'rred embodiment of the invention. In this fi'gure'the nether garment is shown 'as worn with the exposed lapped parts at the front of the body of the wearer as for play suit use, showing by dot dash lines the manner in which it is positioned on the body of the wearer.

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the garment shown in Figure 1 with the exposed lapped parts at the rear of the body of the wearer as for use as underwear.

Figure 3 is a substantially planar development of the garment showing the front and'rear panel elements in unfolded position priorto being adjusted for placement on the body of the wearer.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the garment shown in Figure 3with the front and rear panel elements folded about the crotch.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view ofa piece of cloth illustrating the manner in which the cloth is cut to produce partsof the garment, the dot dash lines indicating cutting lines.

Figure 6 is a front perspective view ofthe embodiment of the invention shown in Figure -1. In this figure the nether garment "is shown as worn with the exposed lapped parts at the front of the body of the wearer, as for play suit use, and is reduced in scale as compared with Figure 1.

In accordance with the invention the garment comprises generally a front panel element [8, a rear panel element 19-, a-front waistband element 53, including a central member E i and end members 55 and 5 6 and a rear waistband element 63 including a central member '64 and end members 65 and B8; N

In the production of the garment ill, a strip of cloth ll is folded along the line i2 so that the end edge 50 of the cloth H is aligned with the side edge 5| thereof. The cloth H is next cut along the dot-double-dash line 52, then along the lines l2, M, l5, l6 and Il.

Thus, from this folded piece of cloth, cuts through two layers are made along the dot dash lines [6, l5, l6 and IT. The larger pieces cut from the cloth form blanks for the front panel element [8 and the rear panel element 19. After the blanks for the front and rear panel elements have been removed from the body of the cloth I I, the material lying between the cutting line [4 and the out line 52, as well as the edge 49, forms a blank which may be used for the formation of rear waistband element 63. Similarly, the material lying between the cutting line i5 and the edge 50 forms a blank which may be used for the formation of the front waistband element 53. The material lying between the cuttinglines l6 and IT, and the edges 49 and 58, will form one rectangular piece of material which when diagonally bisected, forms the triangular blanks '6 and 7. Similarly, in the lower layer between the cutting lines l6 and Fl and the cutting line 52 and the edge 5 l there will be formed another rectangular piece of material which when diagonally bisected, forms the triangular blanks 4 and 5. The last mentioned blanks 4 to i inclusive, when incorporated in their respective central waistband members, give these parts adequate length and avoid waste of material in cutting from the bolt.

Thus, as seen in Figure 5, the blank 9 may become the front panel element l8 and the blank 8 may become the rear panel element 19. The edges of the blank 9 at the cutting lines H5 and H becom the crotch edges 61 and 68 while the edges of the blank 8 at the cutting lines it and I! become the crotch edges 69 and H3.

While the parts may be assembled in a different order from that described, by way of example, one method of fabricating the garment is here given. The blank 9 has secured to the upper edge H thereof, at the outermost portions, the lower edges i2 and 73 ofthe end members 89 and 9B and further reinforcement may be provided by the stitching to the Waistband elements 53 and 63 reinforcing tapes (not shown for purposes of clarity) which may be secured by the stitches 8992 inclusive. The' end members 55 and '65 are provided with a plurality of fastening means which may take the form of the buttons 93 and 94, and 95 and 95. To correspond thereto, the end members 56 and 56 may be provided with buttonholes 91 and 98.

Assuming the garment to be in its finished state and in the position shown in Figure 3, the same may be donned in a rapid and convenient manner. If the garment is to be worn in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 6, for example,

' the wearer grasps the garment H3 by the waist- 55 and 56. Similarly, the blank 8 has secured to the upper edge M thereof at the outermost portions, the lower edges 75 and 76 of the end members 65 and 66.

Next, the front panel i8 is provided with a plurality of darts or tucks TI and the rear panel 19 is provided with a plurality of tucks 18. The darts or tucks increase in depth or width as they approach the waistline portions of the garment and in addition to providing adequate fullness across the parts of the garment which will overlie the hips of the wearer, also increase the acuteness or effective radius of the edges of the panel elements l8 and 19 to which the lower curved edges (9 and 80 of the central members 54 and 64 are connected.

The configuration of the central members 54 and 64 is such that the upper edges thereof merge with the upper edges of the respective end members to which they are connected to form substantially smooth curved upper edges 8! and 82 of the front and rear portions of the garment IEI.

The edges 67 and 63, and 68 and HI, may now be integrated in any suitable manner to form the crotch 23. Following this, the side edges 83, 84, 85 and 85, as well as the edges 8i and 82 may be hemmed in a, well known manner by the rows of stitches 81, 88, 89 and 9B. The front waistband element 53 and. the rear waistband element 63 may be further reinforced by additionalrows of stitching 91 and 92. The stitches 9| and 92 are disposed, spaced from, and parallel tothe stitches band 53 and places the panel 18 in front, bringing the end members 56 and 55 around to the rear of the wearer at the waistline and engages the buttonhole 97 by either of the buttons 93 or as. Byvirtue of the fact that the end members 55 and 55 are arranged generally on the bias to conform to the principal body of the panel IS, the front portion of the garment may become partially distorted to conform to the figure of the wearer. Next, the crotch 23 is brought between the legs of the wearer and the panel I!) brought up behind until the inner surface of the rear waistband member 63 lies outwardly of the buttons 93, 54. Now the end members 65 and 65 are brought around to the front of the wearer, lapped and the buttonhole 9B is engaged upon one of the buttons 95, 9'5. The garment as then worn will appear as seen in Figures 1 and 6. Here again the bias arrangement of the cloth in the rear panel l9 and in the end members 55 and 56 will permit the garment to adjust itself to make a satisfactory fit. The central members 55 and 35 being cut so that they are substantially on the straight 0f the cloth, possess relatively little resiliency and provide adequate support for the garment in the areas which they occupy.

The curved upper edges 8i and 82 in assuming a substantially straight line position which they do when the garment is worn, cause the material in the areas adjacent the side edges 83-86 inclusive, vto be under a lesser degree of tension than other portions of the garment, particularly the waistband portions and the portions extending directly between the central members 54 and 65. This reserve of stretchability in the portions of the garment adjacent the side edges 83-86 inclusive, allows them to conform adequately to the wearers figure and also to extend themselves very easily when a change in size and shape is necessary to accommodate new positions of the wearers limbs, as in sitting, walking or running. The quick and easy removal of the garment requires a mere reversal of the steps of donning the same, previously described. Where it is desired to utilize the garment as one of the dropseat type, the dressing and undressing steps are equally simple and require only a change in the order in which the front and rear panel elements are secured. Thus, if the rear panel has the buttonhole 39 and the buttons 95 or 96 engaged first, and this is followed by the engagement of the members 55 and 56 at the rear of the wearer, the. garment will take on an appearance shown n i u V It maybe noted that since the waistband, therefora'is substantially discontinuous in the condition of the garment shown in Figure 3; the garment may be put on or removed without ina aymo '5 terference with other garments already in place.

While the garment has been described as having relatively lower tension, when worn, in the areas adjacent the side edges 83-86 inclusive, there will in turn be greater resiliency in the garment at these areas. This is relative and the areas of the garment between the central members 54 and 64 being composed of cloth cut on the bias have, in turn, greater resiliency than said central members which are arranged on the straight of the cloth. These three degrees of extensibility of the different areas in the garment promote better fit and comfort when worn. By being able to stretch when under the tensions produced by normal use, the strains produced by wearing stresses approach conditions of equilibrium so that they are distributed over the garment and the likelihood of ripping of certain areas under the greatest stress is materially reduced.

In connection with the fastening elements shown and described, it will, of course, be understood that the number of buttons may be increased, the greater the number of buttons the greater the number of separate adjustments which may be obtained in the girth of the garment as worn. It will be noted that although relatively small in ize, the garment provides definite leg openings and it covers a substantial area of the trunk of the wearer and portions of the thighs.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in th art.

I claim:

1. A nether garment comprising: a unitary front panel; a front waist band element connected to said front panel at the upper edge thereof, said front waist band element including a central member and end members laterally disposed with respect to the central member; a unitary rear panel; a rear waist band element connected to said rear panel at the upper edge thereof, said front waist band element including a central member and end members laterally disposed with respect to the central member; said front and rear panel elements, each tapering toward the lower edges thereof and having opposed side edges extending to meet the lateral members of the waist band element, and opposed crotch edges, said crotch edges of the front and rear panel elements being of inverted V-shape, and being interconnected, whereby when the garment is in an extended generally planar condition, said panels in areas bordering said crotch edges are puckered and relatively full; one of the two end members of each of the waist band elements overlapping the other; and complementary means on each of the two pairs of end members to detachably interconnect the same in a plurality of overlapped positions; whereby when the garment is worn, the side edges of the panel elements are juxtaposed to form leg openings which are supported from and extend to the waist band elements at the upper edge of the garment to maintain said side edges in position bordering the edges of the leg openings and whereby the said crotch edges extend between the inner opposed surfaces of the legs of the wearer with relatively little bulk of material thereat.

2. A nether garment composed of woven cloth, comprising: an independent front panel arranged on the bias; a front waist band element connected to said front panel at the upper edge 6 thereof, said front waist band element including a central member arrangedon'thestraight of the cloth and end members arranged on the bia and laterally disposed with respect to the central member; an independent rear panel; a rear waist band element connected to said rear panel at the upper edge thereof, said rear waist band element including a central member arranged on the straight and end members arranged on the bias and laterally disposed with respect to said last-mentioned central member; said front and rear panel elements, each tapering toward the lower edges thereof and having opposed side edges extending to meet the lateral members of the waist band element, and opposed crotch edges, said crotch edges of the front and rear panel elements being of inverted V-shape, and being interconnected, wh'ereby when the garment is in an extended generally planar condition, said panels in areas bordering said crotch edges are puckered and relatively free; one of the two end members of each of the waist band elements overlapping the other; and complementary means on each of the two pairs of end members to detachably interconnect the same in a plurality of overlapped positions; whereby when the garment is worn, the side edges of the panel elements are juxtaposed toform leg openings which are supported from and extend to the waist band elements at the upper edge of the garment to maintain said side edges in position bordering the edges of the leg openings and whereby the said crotch edges extend between the inner opposed surfaces of the legs of the wearer with relatively little bulk of material thereat.

3. A nether garment composed of woven cloth, comprising: an independent front panel arranged on the bias; a front waist band element connected to said front panel at the upper edge thereof, said front waist band element including a central member arranged on the straight of the cloth and end members arranged on the bias and laterally disposed with respect to the central member; an independent rear panel; a rear waist band element connected to said rear panel at the upper edge thereof, said rear waist band element including a central member arranged on the straight and end members arranged on the bias and laterally disposed with respect to said lastmentioned central member, said central member having an upwardly curved lower edge which meets its own upper edge and the upper edges of the said end members; said front and rear panel elements, each tapering toward the lower edges thereof and having opposed side edges extending to meet the lateral members of the Waist band element, and opposed crotch edges, said crotch edges of the front and rear panel elements being of inverted V-shape, and being interconnected, whereby when the garment is in an extended generally planar condition, said panels in areas bordering said crotch edges are puckered and relatively free; one of the two end members of each of the waist band elements overlapping the other; and complementary means on each of the two pairs of end members to detachably interconnect the same in a plurality of overlapped positions; whereby when the garment is worn, the side edges of the panel elements are juxtaposed to form leg openings which are supported from and extend to the waist band elements at the upper edge of the garment to maintain said side edges in position bordering the edges of the leg openings and whereby th said crotch edges extend between the inner opposed surfaces of the legs of the wearer with relatively little bulk 01 material th'ereat.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date MARY STOEHR- r 939,943 Brodton Nov. 9, 1909 O Re.21,092 Lanknean May 16, 1939 REFERENCES CITED 1,451,643 Woody Apr. 10, 1923 The following references are of record in the 1,9 0,715 Ryden et a1 May 23, 1933 file of this patent: ,060,639 Read Nov. 10, 1936 

